I have found that one of the sweetest treasures within living a life of traveling is that I call numerous places home.
Whether you’re an avid traveler or not, most of us have found that the places don’t create home, the people do. And that has been my saving grace for the past few years; In a home in the mountains of Ecuador with over 50 people to my little city of Canal Winchester, Ohio and now my beautiful home in Guatemala with Gap T.
Home has a new meaning. A place of refuge, vulnerability, laughing, dancing, crying, good questions. Sitting around the table and talking about our days. Reading in our hammocks. Sharing clothes. Riding Razor scooters. Overcoming insecurities and fears together. Telling stories of ministry. Worshipping Jesus. Saying “I’m sorry” and “I’m proud of you” and “I’m here for you”. Safety. The refilling to walk outside the gate and walk in boldness to share the gospel.
I’m a week into living in Guatemala and I’ve been so surprised by how quickly it has become home and how quickly I’ve loved living with these people. Ministry has begun for each team and it’s full of joy and risk- most holy things are. Most teams are working and pioneering within a village near where we live to build relationships and do life with the locals. This looks a lot like eating lunch with the woman they prayed with, healing the sick, doing miscellaneous jobs around the village to show Jesus in the simplest ways.
And we could not be more excited.
Here is a picture of one of the teams I’m working with, standing with a family they had just prayed for while doing a prayer walk within their village.
I have written in my journal over and over “I can’t believe I get to do this”.
We all live here without wifi, the hustle of life at home, and outside distraction. Warm days and cold nights. This has led to time being spent by playing volleyball, deep conversations, running in the rain, singing around the fire, cooking together, looking each other in the eye, listening, resting, laying aside control and perfection. Some of my favorite things. When the excess “stuff” of everyday life is set to the side, we allow ourselves to focus on what truly matters; connection. And that’s what we get to do here in the midst of ministry.
Wholly here.
And in my life, I have seen those seeds of rest and connection later blossom into beautiful flowers of family and Kingdom. Most of all – Jesus.
And that’s what home is to me- to look around at my people and feel true and deep rest. Knowing that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. Here’s to all that’s to come!
Keep all the people of Gap T in your prayers- month 1 comes with a lot of craziness (including sickness).
